Since the Scion xB lost the battle of the cubes, and now is dethroned, Nissan and Kia have been waging their own battles. Both have competent cars (all the major sites have done comparos by now), but which commercial would get you off your tush to the dealership to test drive one? Lets do this strictly based on advertising.
Small car marketing is a tricky niche, because you want to include everyone, not just your early 20 something loft dweller who’s single speed bicycle with gold accents fits in the hatch and happens just to park in front of the same American Apparel everyday.
1. Kia Soul – Hamster dance with Goldfish by Fort Knox
Heart heart heart it. Its not smug, its just creative. We’ve all been there, waiting in traffic, leaving home in the burbs, and felt like a hamster in the wheel. It cute without feeling like anime, and the hamsters aren’t freaky either. Simple is good. Of course I dont really know anymore about the car, outside of the sweet LEDs around the speakers.
2. Nissan Cube – Ice cream by new pony club
Life style commercial. Work all day Play all night crowd. I get it, and the song slightly fits the commercial. Yet by pushing a certain life style, and the ending with the eco friendly bag pushed this over the top. Not a fan. Someone like my mom would watch this and never remember it. The attempt at being hip pushed it over the edge.
your mom remembers hamsters.
comment moderation is retarded
KIA Hamsters FTW. Unless the Soul can actually parallel park like the commercial, I need that feature, lol.
i like the kia soul because maybe it’ll make up for me lacking a soul.
Kia clearly wins. They highlight the product much better, showing features while entertaining the audience.
Oh yeah and this blogger is dangerously teetering on developing a jalopnik-ttac-martha stewart writing style.
Korean hamsters ftw!
can i have them as pets with the car? hahaha!!!!
I watched the hamster one twice.
i vote for the Cube. The Soul commerical is over played. Kia is becoming the Ford of car commericals.
@Doglover You’re complimenting Kia? Ford is a great company with new products that genuinely rival Toyota. The company has reinvented itself since 2007 when mulally took over. I debated over giving you an intelligent response, or simply typing “you’re dumb.”
haha.
Are they spending tons of money on advertising?
Yeah.
But Ford’s doing circles around the other companies in Detroit. I’m a huge fan of the new Fusion Hybrid, which btw, has been averaging 43 mpg.
Every auto company spends a ton on advertising. Typical ad spend for new vehicle launch is $60-$100 Million.
Kia hasn’t said how much $$$ they spent on the rodent ad campaign, but analysts estimate they spent just over $300 million in 2008 on measured media.
i dont get it, the Honda Fit is like… a coffin, then the Scion XB, now the Kia Soul and the Nissan Ice Cube? the more unorthodox the better?
Kia rocks – but their car sucks!
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is sporting some nice EPA numbers given its size. Better than the Soul and Cube.
Yeah, Ford Fusion hybrid is a great car. Different segment however, and much more expensive.
so, are you gear toward American hybrid like the Ford, Chevy, or you would love to roll in our small Asian car, like the Honda and the Toyota?